West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-08-05
HOW ENGAGED COUPLES ACT
Some Interesting Experiences and Sug'
gestions by Southern Ladies.

0OtllC 4nbSASohii6 SAR~AA~@&~S ~~~S 30
gestions by Southern Ladies.
The Kansas City Star gives num-
Der of confessions and experiences
relating to engagements. The first
to take the witness-stand was a
pretty girl with many admirers:
Il have been engaged twice" A
surprised murmur rose from the par
ty. "And the truth of the saying
that there is no accounting for wo-
mans taste was fully verified in my
case, for the two gentlemen could
not have been more unlike. The first
proposal came from one some years
nv senior. He told his tale with
difficulty, and the hesitation with
which he talked impaired tome some
thing akin to it, for L did not accept
him as quickly as l intended. How
ever, we became engaged and remain
ed so for four months. And do you
know that during the whole time he
never as much as touched my hand" "
"Never kissed you?" asked pc
tite brunette, in tone of wondering
Indignation.
Never"
'The other man was an ardent
wooer, and was great stlckler for
what he called his rights Having
been educated, so to speak, in the Pu-
ritanical system characteristic of my
first engagement, l was disposed to
resent the seeming liberties he took
but was told that an engaged couple
were expected to be more demonstrat-
i've to each other than ordinary ac-
quaintances."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, there is certainly no harm
in n woman permitting man to
whom she has plighted her troth oc-
casionally kissing her. 1t is very
frequently done, know, and when
no such understanding exists an ex
ception to the rule is found"
Il don't know about that" was the
dreamy observation Of young fell
low who was said to be engaged. 81
am disposed to think the Puritani-
cal system is yet very extensively
practiced."
"What is the conduct toward each
othes of engaged couples?' asked one
of the party.
In honest, serious entanglementsY"
queried lady.
"Yes."
"When woman is truly and hon
estly in love with a man she is very
careful, indeed, more so than she or
dinarily is in her conduct toward
him. She is afraid of doing some
thing that will injure her in his es-
timation the more ardently she loves
him the more reserved, frequently, is
she with her caresses and endear-
ments. | speak Of the engaged Pc
riod, Of course; after marriage it is
different. He perhaps kisses her a
few times before they are married. |
am told up North, and even in parts
of the South, it is different. An en-
gagement becomes 4 public affair, is
announced. and the behavior Of the
couple is expected to be that of an
engaged couple. Here with us it has
not yet reached that point. 1t will
some day, l am confident, and / do
not know that it is not the best plan
by far. 1t is certainly far more at
tractive to the parties thems elves,
and it is serious drawback to flirt-
ing and coquetry, which too often
characterizes young girls. With us
girl likes to be with her fiance,
but the moment the public becomes
aware of the fact that he is her in
tended husband she rather avoids
public appearance in his company.
Just why it is ] do not know, but it
frequently the case. know lady,
staid matron, who was engaged
for a year before marriage, who re-
questcd her fance six months before
the time to refrain from visiting her.
And for six months previous to the
wedding she did not see him, though
they lived within twelve miles of each
other